Honoring Milly Sawyers: Springfield Unveils 10th African-American Heritage Trail Marker

On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, history came alive in downtown Springfield as community members, local leaders, and advocates gathered to honor the legacy of Milly Sawyers with the unveiling of the latest marker on the Springfield-Greene County African-American Heritage Trail. The ceremony, held at the corner of Boonville and Water Street in the city parking lot, marked the tenth installation along the trail and one of its most powerful stories yet.
The afternoon began at the History Museum Education Center, where attendees heard a brief program about Sawyers’ remarkable role in local and national history. Together, the group then walked to the new marker site. Milly Sawyers’ story—little known until recently—embodies both the resilience and the struggles of formerly enslaved individuals in early Missouri. Court documents uncovered by the Greene County Archives revealed that Sawyers boldly petitioned for her freedom in the Greene County court system, one of the earliest such cases in the state’s history. This discovery highlighted Greene County as an unexpected site of a freedom suit decades before the more widely known Dred Scott case reached national attention. Dr. Lyle Q. Foster, a member of the Heritage Trail Committee emphasized the significance of the occasion. “By making this story public, I am inspired by Milly’s tremendous courage against formidable odds to take her case to the courts because freedom is just that precious. She inspires and demonstrates what we have had to do to have our place in the story of this nation.” The unveiling was not only a commemoration of one woman’s determination but also a celebration of ongoing efforts to preserve Springfield’s African-American history. Recent years have seen Sawyers’ narrative reach broader audiences through archival research, a dramatic production, and a short film, further cementing her place in the cultural memory of the Ozarks. As the marker was revealed, the moment carried weight and reverence. Families, educators, and local historians reflected on how this single story widens our understanding of freedom, justice, and the complex history of Missouri. The African-American Heritage Trail, which now features ten markers across the city, continues to serve as a permanent reminder of the lives, struggles, and contributions of Springfield’s Black residents throughout history. With each new unveiling, the trail deepens the city’s commitment to telling a fuller, more inclusive story of its past.
For Springfield, the name Milly Sawyers is no longer relegated to the yellowed pages of forgotten court records. Today, it is etched in stone, standing tall as a marker of freedom, bravery, and remembrance.